'Every scene was shot separately in Tamil and Telugu'

In Tamil Nadu for the Tamil version, and in Andhra Pradesh for the Telugu version.

Are you dubbing it in Telugu?

No. Every scene was shot separately in Tamil and Telugu. We have the main actors in both the versions but some character actors are different for Tamil and Telugu.

People like Nasser and Prakash Raj are known to both Tamil and Telugu audiences. But everybody had to learn both the languages!

As I had made Payanam in two languages simultaneously, it was easier this time. The advantage I had with Payanam was that half the film happened inside a flight. But here, I had to be very careful about the ambience. The car passing by should have the Andhra registration in the Telugu version. We had to shoot twice, once with a Tamil Nadu number plate and then with AP registration. It was quite tedious but we did it successfully.

Who is your protagonist?

Arjun is a young man who goes from the city to a village in search of his friend who had gone missing. Soon, he gets sucked into what was happening there, and into the system.

The interesting thing about the story is that what was started by him was carried forward by the student community. It becomes a students' movement. Now, you see the same thing happening here in Chennai itself.

Yami Gautam plays Yazhini, a local girl, a lawyer who supports the student movement. Hers is a very strong character.

'Yami Gautam has done wonderfully well in the film'

I had seen her in Vicky Donor and liked her performance. When we contacted her, she was interested to do such a character. For someone who doesn't know either language, she managed very well and did wonderfully well.

You have always made films for Prakash Raj's Duet Movies. Is it because of the comfort level you share with him?

Of course. For any director, the most important thing is creative freedom, which I get in abundance at Duet Movies. We are good friends and we get along well.

Our journey together started with Azhagiya Theeye and it continues. Duet Movies is like my own home production. When I have something like this, why should I make films elsewhere?

After Payanam, I suggested this story idea and he liked it.

Did you do any research before writing the screenplay?

Yes, I did a lot of travelling in the interiors of Tamil Nadu and Andhra. I spoke to a lot of people too.